Keeping the roof dry

R

RickZ4

Member
 West Dorset
Hi Guys,

I can just about remember my M Roadster.... That was long before our greedy banks almost nuked themselves and had to be rescued by the taxpayer. Unfortunately, my business was one of the those affected, but no tax payer rescue for me... Bankruptcy! :(

So, after years of hardship, I've finally got a toe back on the ladder. Cars? A 1997 Honda Civic. Now I've got 7 grand to spend on something nicer. There isn't much I like for that kind of money except perhaps a Boxster, TT or.... Z4!

I think that a 10 year old Z4 has got the looks and is the best bargain. I'm taking my time and waiting for a good one. I just want a nice SE. But, here's my question:

I would like a ragtop but do not have a garage and winters are unkind to convertibles. Does anyone know of a cheap solution other than a full car cover to help protect my new sweetheart?

Best wishes

Rick
 
Hi Tim interesting History. Bl##dy bankers. Welcome back to Zedland. Obvious first though is a hard top. :)
 
Just regular clean and proofer such as autoglym should be fine imho, you can buy half covers that just pop over the roof, quick forum search should see you right, good luck finding your z, 7k should easily see you with a good un
 
A light half cover has been my solution these last 3 years (after trying 3 types of cover - the heavier ones mark the paint too badly, this lighter one only marks the gel coat lightly and is easily buffed out - only happens when it's windy). Got mine from Roadster Solutions £50. Gets put on every night and protects roof from bird poop etc and keeps water out of electric hood motor.

 
Great suggestions. Thanks. Thought about the car port but not practical when I am. I like the half cover. A hard top or coupe would also be nice...

What a great bunch you are! :thumbsup:

I'm still shopping at the moment. Are there any arguments for or against the pre-06 facelift? I'm shooting for a low mileage 2.5 - 3.0 SE for the softer ride.... I've not had a chance to compare with the Sport yet, but am led to believe that country back roads can be fairly torturous. Thanks for all the comments.
 
Welcome back to the zed. Hard luck on the bankruptcy, but big respect for getting yourself out of it mate :thumbsup:

I'll resist the temptation to recommend a coupe at this point ;) Gd luck with your search.
 
SE suspension is apparently a little better than Sport as far as ride comfort goes, but switching to non-runflat tyres is the thing that will make the biggest difference. The ride isn't too bad unless your dampers are shot.

Half covers are great - if you fully restore your soft top then a half cover will keep it perfect for months. I have a Cabrio Shield, which is a fantastic design, but the standard version (below pics are from when I got it) seems to fade and deteriorate quite quickly, and the premium version is mega bucks.

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Buzztops are also highly rated, if you can get hold of them.

Just be careful not to put any cover on when the top is wet or there is dirt on the paintwork. My car is up for sale so I bought a cheap-ish (£60) full cover recently to keep it nice:

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It's a Voyager car cover from eBay. Decent quality and good for peace of mind, but a bit more of a faff to put on than the half cover.
 
I would recommend the half cover too, make sure you protect your soft top then use one of these throughout winter. I don't have a garage, but reckon this will really help protect it. Bought mine from classicadditions.com for £45

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RickZ4 said:
I'm still shopping at the moment. Are there any arguments for or against the pre-06 facelift? I'm shooting for a low mileage 2.5 - 3.0 SE for the softer ride.... I've not had a chance to compare with the Sport yet, but am led to believe that country back roads can be fairly torturous. Thanks for all the comments.
Click to expand...

No argument against the pre facelift. They are well respected Zeds but getting on a bit but £7K will easily get you a low mileage 3.0i SE (Pre-06 facelift) in good condition and well maintained (Hold out for the 3.0i). You'll need to be patient but this is a good time to be looking. You may find a facelift 2.5si for that money as well (just as effective on the road) so good hunting. :thumbsup:
 
I got a half cover in the end definitely worth the money. Ive managed to buy a garage now and it comes with a house!
 
DanStarr said:
I got a half cover in the end definitely worth the money. Ive managed to buy a garage now and it comes with a house!
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I'd like a half cover that comes with a garage..!
 
Sorry to hear about your money woes.

I can't recommend the Gtechniq products highly enough.
I wouldn't use anything else now after having tried all sorts.
 
Carol M said:
Sorry to hear about your money woes.

I can't recommend the Gtechniq products highly enough.
I wouldn't use anything else now after having tried all sorts.
Click to expand...

Thanks! :thumbsup:
 
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